Vaginas. Half of us have them. If you’re reading this you may have one and if you don’t have one, you would probably like to be acquainted with one, so this applies to you, too.

One day around year fifty the wonderful, multi-tasking vagina will begin to change. Mine, it goes without saying, is still a Maserati. Fast, sleek and a bit of a show-off. But as the last year of hot flashes have made very clear, the times they are a changing.

To that end I was thrilled to be invited to a Google Hangout with a thankfully hilarious, astute, no-nonsense OB-GYN Dr. Mary Jane Minkin, the Clinical Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences at Yale University School of Medicine and the women’s health advisor to Prevention Magazine.

I, and four other midlife bloggers, had a slew of questions to ask Dr. Minkin, which revolved around that cradle of civilization, that I thought would be embarrassing to discuss, but which turned out to be a conversation not just about maintaining vaginal alacrity to the end of time, but also about body image, female sexuality and somehow George Clooney managed to pop up (so to speak) in the course of the conversation.

The questions all revolved around enabling the change with gusto, rather than dread. I invite you to watch the edited down conversation (where I do quite a bit of strange head nodding) as I think it will answer many of the questions you too may have about menopause and how it affects sex and sexuality:

SADLY THIS VIDEO IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE. SIGH.

The opinions expressed in this video are those of the participants and are not those of Church & Dwight Co., Inc.

I think my favorite take-away from my conversation with Dr. Minkin was that oft-used, yet underrated slogan, “If you don’t use it, you lose it.”

We live during a time and in a place where aging doesn’t have to be a debilitating, depressing evolution. We have resources previous generations did not have before us and it’s my plan to take full advantage. For me that means eating great food, doing exercise that I enjoy, remaining committed to and invested in the sexual component of my marriage to a generous, loving man, and eventually donating any droopy neck flesh to whoever may need it during a cold winter, because I live in L.A. and won’t be needing it.

Finally there’s a simple trip to the grocery store to make sure everything has a fluidity about it. To that end, a bit more about my sponsor.

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Ladies, I hope this post and video not only gave you new insight and awareness about enabling the change, but also gave you a good laugh because that, and sex, are a huge part of remaining vital.

“Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face.” — Victor Hugo

I make sure to exercise every day because this helps me with sleep. I keep my room cool at night, and I eat a very healthy diet, and drink plenty of water. I also meditate and do yoga because it relaxes me. A a nice hot bath is so soothing.

I take hormones. I started going through menopause in my 40’s, and I wasn’t ready for some of the changes, like bone-dry lady bits, many hot flashes a day and night sweats. I weighed the risk factors, and decided to work with my GYN, who specializes in HRT, to keep my hormone levels at a more reasonable level. I realize I’ll need an exit plan at some point, but for now, I’m happy with the benefits.

To handle things as I get older, I always talk to other friends who are a bit older to get the heads up. 🙂 For whatever that they don’t know, I ask my doctor for advice and solution. There’s no need to deal with things alone. 🙂

I’ve had major hormonal issues since going through puberty so by the time I got to menopause I barely even noticed the symptoms. I was kind of shocked when my doctor told me that I had passed right through. That being said my FSH level was at 129 and definitely explained why I felt like I had a constant UTI! It just never really ends for women does it????? Then again, if the alternative is to be a male, no thanks 🙂

For me, coping has gotten easier as I get older. I used to care about all the wrong things. My focus now is on issues that mean something to my family or in the world. I don’t get caught up trying to impress people. My worst critic now is ME!
I wish I could learn to love my body. Cut to: Me facing myself in the mirror naked. (cue music from Psycho)

In the wise words of Little Feat, “Well you know that you’re over the hill when your mind makes a promise that your body can’t fill.” I don’t consider myself over the hill yet but as things change (and no, not for the better, folks), I think a sense of humour is key. I think we also need not be afraid to talk about it and marketers need to respect us as a demographic for all sorts of products, from clothing to entertainment to beauty and health.

When I turned fffff…fifty, I couldn’t even say it for about a year without stuttering. It wasn’t that I thought anything was wrong with it … for anyone else! How was it possible that I, the single mother of a then 6 yr. old, was THAT! There was no easing into 50 for me! Dating was the other bizarre factor of my entree into this decade. I have since married my soulmate who tolerates and laughs at the roller coaster of menopause. And my son, now a teen, can have a hormonal challenge any day.

I’m 54 and my husband is 51. He is a roofer and a very hard worker. So I do my best to make sure we are ‘romantic’ on average 3-4 x a week or more and if not romance for both of us then at least for him because it’s healthier for him to have that routine for his overall health. I often don’t ‘feel’ like it since the menopause but do it anyway because by the time things get started my body can wake up to what’s going on. I never wanted to be one of those stereotypical persons who has a ‘headache’ or ‘doesn’t feel like it’.I have to say, I am feeling a little bit more self conscious about my aging body parts but he still seems interested. I need to exercise but have currently been procrastinating that part. Hope I will get over my disdain for exercise…soon.

I went through all of those symptoms when I went through menopause. What surprised me the most is the mood swings I have. One day I’m happy and positive and the next day I’m depressed, thankfully it doesn’t last.

It’s a fact that everyone gets older every day and this comes with some inevitable physical changes — it’s a price we all pay for getting to stick around. One can mope about or accept it and enjoy life. I choose the latter

It depends on the change. When it comes to aging, it is a true 2-sided sword. I love where I am so far as self-confidence and self-love but I hate the aches/pains/wrinkles/gray hair! LOL So, some I embrace and others depress me.

I learned at a very young age to just go with the flow. I try to appreciate my body for what it is and take things as they come. I’ve been very lucky with menopause, not having all the symptoms most people seem to go thru. It was all a very easy transition for me. Just smile a lot and know that “this too shall pass”.

I will turn 50 this year, and am feeling mostly okay with changes. For a woman, I love the not needing any protection as I am going through the change. However, I see my body aging and while not happy and I accepting. I just try to eat right and exercise. I became a grandma this year, and it’s okay to be a grandma. While I am leaving my young body behind, I have such a strong mind and the happiness brought to me by a grandchild. It’s really not that bad.

It is hard to handle changes as I get older, I try to use Moisturizer on my Face to help…Taking Vitamins and caring for my Health, and also telling my self that we all grow older and there is nothing I can do about it, but just live my life and enjoy it every step of the way.